Abortion Question

Happy Days 11

I don't vaccinate my flock against abortions.

I bought in 15 ewes last October and now I have 60. They are due this Sunday but the bought in ewes started aborting on Monday. Out of the 15 bought in ewes, 8 have aborted so far. Another 2 look like they will abort before morning. None of my own have aborted and show no signs of it. (Why is this, surely they should be aborting as well). One bought in ewe aborted with Toxoplasmosis about 4 weeks ago but that was it.

Ewes were fine, no signs and aborted all of a sudden. They did however wag their tail excessively for the past week. I didn't think much of it, because there were grazing, eating nuts and generally looked well.

Had vet out and tests sent but she said it could be Monday before I get a definite answer on what it is. Anyone have any idea what it is. Foetus is well developed, no discoloration and it is not rotting. Ewes had milk as well :mad::mad::mad::mad:

rancher

Happy Days 11 wrote: »

I don't vaccinate my flock against abortions.

I bought in 15 ewes last October and now I have 60. They are due this Sunday but the bought in ewes started aborting on Monday. Out of the 15 bought in ewes, 8 have aborted so far. Another 2 look like they will abort before morning. None of my own have aborted and show no signs of it. (Why is this, surely they should be aborting as well). One bought in ewe aborted with Toxoplasmosis about 4 weeks ago but that was it.

Ewes were fine, no signs and aborted all of a sudden. They did however wag their tail excessively for the past week. I didn't think much of it, because there were grazing, eating nuts and generally looked well.

Had vet out and tests sent but she said it could be Monday before I get a definite answer on what it is. Anyone have any idea what it is. Foetus is well developed, no discoloration and it is not rotting. Ewes had milk as well :mad::mad::mad::mad:

If its Toxo, its possible for your bought in ewes to abort and your own not to.
With toxo, a ewe can naturally become immune just by coming in contact with the disease, so if that's what it is, your own ewes are probably immune and the bought ones have only encountered the disease now.
Its a disease carried by cats, but I think lambing fluids can carry it too, maybe they got it from the last ewe that aborted if they were near her at the time
Vaccination works well, only costs €4/ewe and lasts for the life of the ewe.

Green farmer

Rancher, summed it up well. I heard its on the rise in recent years as well. More common then you think. Careful handling ewes when lambing. A small cut on your hand and you could pick it up as well. Will feel like you are after catching flue.

rancher

Green farmer wrote: »

Rancher, summed it up well. I heard its on the rise in recent years as well. More common then you think. Careful handling ewes when lambing. A small cut on your hand and you could pick it up as well. Will feel like you are after catching flue.

When you get it once, you'll vaccinate.
Enzootic is on the rise too, ewes can die after aborting with that

Insp. Harry Callahan

My input here is not to buy in any replacements in the future, much safer breeding your own, not much use to you now at this stage I know, maybe best to isolate this other ones you bought away from your own ewes.
Abortion in ewes is a real sickener and is stressful, hope it clears up for you, all the best with the lambing

Conmaicne Mara

Insp. Harry Callahan wrote: »

My input here is not to buy in any replacements in the future, much safer breeding your own, not much use to you now at this stage I know, maybe best to isolate this other ones you bought away from your own ewes.
Abortion in ewes is a real sickener and is stressful, hope it clears up for you, all the best with the lambing

Never had abortion here, touch wood. I'd largely agree with buying replacements too, with the exception of buying from people known to you, as I am hoping to do this year. Buying unknown sheep can be a gamble, did it once ever with wethers to finish them, never again, every one had bad foot problems.

sea12

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. Lambing can be stressful enough without that. Its terrible when ure trying to build up numbers and that happens.

Hopefully the rest of lambing goes well for you.

Happy Days 11

Thanks for the support. A big lesson learnt, I will definitely vaccinate from now on. 9 out of the 15 ewes aborted. Manage to save the only lamb that was half alive at birth. I took her off the ewe and get her going at home. Very premature, but alive and kicking. Will foster her at the weekend as she's still a bit small.

Ewes started yesterday. Had 2 sets of twins and a single so far. All fine so hopefully it will improve.

arctictree

Did the Vet tell you what the problem was?

Happy Days 11

Yeah confirmed as toxoplasmosis by the vet

Green farmer

I had a outbreak before. All it takes is for an infected cat to urinate in a water trough and your years work is gone. The only good news is the ones that aborted are now immune for life. When it hit me , it affected some ewes one year and then was very widespread the next year. Even though your older ewes are probably immune from it, it would be no harm to vaccinate them on the off chance, but is peace of mind.

rancher

Green farmer wrote: »

I had a outbreak before. All it takes is for an infected cat to urinate in a water trough and your years work is gone. The only good news is the ones that aborted are now immune for life. When it hit me , it affected some ewes one year and then was very widespread the next year. Even though your older ewes are probably immune from it, it would be no harm to vaccinate them on the off chance, but is peace of mind.

Every farm has cats (wild or otherwise) in their straw

Conmaicne Mara

Regarding cats urine and straw, both sheds we'd have any hay/straw in are cat proof. Obviously I don't know about the farm the straw came from, would there be a time sensitivity between when the cat would urinate on the hay/straw and the abortions? Or is it something that can stay in the hay/straw for a very long time.

Green farmer

I was watching a programme on the bbc and they were doing scientific tests. They were able to demonstrate that a mouse once infected with toxo actually acted in a manner, that encouraged the cat to eat them, therefore infecting the cat. Scary stuff.
I don't know what research is available about toxo in straw or hay. I'd imagine the risk would be lower in dry things like straw and hay, then compared to a fluid environment. The toxo is a parasite . Then again I'm just a farmer and no expert.